LATE

 

John Ellis worked hard

And spent his leisure time

Pubbing and Clubbing

Till late

Very late

This night didn’t differ

When he crawled into his pit

Much the worse for drink

It was late

Very late

When he awoke in the morning

Thick head pounding

He stared bleary eyed at the clock

It was late

Very late

Slowly what he saw permeated the haze

Dawning on him in the half light

And he cursed

I’m late

I’m late

He hurriedly scraped the ice

Then when he got in the car

The radio confirmed

He was late

Very late

He was a safe driver normally

But today he drove too fast

He took too many chances

Because he was late

Very late

He raced on to the motorway

Despite the spray and patchy mist

He raced on ever conscious

He was late

Very late

Bright red lights

Pierced through the mist suddenly

He braced himself and braked

Too late

Too late

His mangled body sat motionless

In the tangle of mangled metal

And his life ebbed away

Late, late

The late John Ellis